Lifting apparatus



July 22, 1930. J. J. M CONNELL LIFTING APPARATUS Filed June 17, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR July 22, 1930. J. J. M CONNELL LIFTING APPARATUS Filed June 1 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 22, 1930- J. J. M CONNELL LIFTING' APPARATUS Fil June 1' 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet HW ILHT W ZNVENTOR BY 4! MYM ATTORNEY July 22, 1930.

J. J. M CONNELL LIFTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 17, 1925 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 193% JOHN JAMES MGCONNELL, F SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA, assI-snon 'ro LOUISIANA OIL REFINING CORPORATION, OF RICI-IMQND, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA LIFTING- APPARATUS Application filed June 17,

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, sturdy and highly efiicient apparatus for raising automobiles and other vehicles from floor level to a height sufiicient to give convenient access to the lower parts of the vehicle. The device is particularly suitable for use in garages, service stations and similar places, but as will be clearlater on, the novel structure is suitable for use or may readily be adapted for use in various places and for a number of different purposes.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the kind mentioned which will support a load in horizontal position at any height regardless of whether the load is accurately distributed on the load support. This feature is important in quick operation because of the saving of time in placing various loads, particularly automobiles and trucks of wide 1y varying lengths of wheel bases, and be cause of the fact that it minimizes danger of accidents caused by the load running or slip ping off if the load support becomes slightly inclined after the lifting operation' is started.- Another object is to provide a construction whereby the load support will not interfere with or be in the way ofa workman in changing oil, greasing or making repairs to the underside of the automobile or other vehicle, in connection with a general organization which will permit installation of an apparatus and still leave a floor space which is for all practical purposessubstantially uninterrupted. This general organization com- 5 prises the idea of locating all of the mechanism immediately associated with the load supporting and lifting parts below the floor level in a pit which is preferably so constructed that the load support is properly 6: supported while the load is being placed and which is so constructed that the workman will have plenty of floor space to work upon even though the comparatively small mouth of the pit is not covered by movable flooring 3 which may be apparatus.

With the above and incidental objects in view, the invention comprises a novel combination and relationof parts, 'theessential elements of which are pointed out in appendprovided when installingthe 1925. Serial No. 37,643.

ed claims, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described in detail with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is'a section the line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a side view (partly brokenaway) of the apparatus with the load support in partially lifted position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view (partly broken away) of the preferred construction.

Fig. 4; is a detail in section of one of the guides for the lifting plunger with the plunger' elevated.

Fig. 5 is a detail which, in connection with Fig. t, shows one of the horizontal. sheaves or pulleys and the way it is supported.

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively top plan and side views of a modified form of the lifting apparatus. 7

Fig. 8 is'a diagrammatic showing of part of the mechanism for controlling the raising and lowering of a load.

The novel apparatus comprises a plurality of vertically movable plungers and guide columns or posts therefor which will be described in detail later on. In installing one of the apparatuses, the guide posts are firmly supported, preferably by embedding them in concrete. Between the guide posts the concrete may be given the form shown at 9 in Fig. 3' to provide a comparatively shallow pit in which much of the mechanism is mounted or supported. In constructing the pit its.

walls are preferably so constructed as-to form a support for the load platform when the automobile or other load is'being placed in position and also to leave available as much of the floor space as possible. While, as. stated,

the pit is comparatively shallow, the bottom being indicated by the line 10 in Fig. 2, and its walls so constructed that the opening is not very wide, a suitable removable flooring may be supplied for covering substantially all of the pit. The portions 11 of the pit structure are hollow or formed to provide conduits 12 for cables or corresponding con nections described more in detail'later on.

Theapparatus shown in the drawings is 55. (partly broken away) on v intended for use in lifting automobiles and trucks and comprises a pair of parallel rails or tracks 13 provided with upturned flanges 14 forming channels to receive the wheels of the vehicle. The flanges may, if desired, be flared out. ard at the ends of the tracks to assist in guiding the vehicle into the channels. Connecting the rails 13 is a pair of bars or channel irons 15, thereby, in connection with. the rails, forming a rectangular load support frame which is open to such an extent as not to interfere with the Workmen when the load has been lifted.

In normal or load receiving position. the tracks 13 are at floor level and preferably restat their ends and at intermediate portions upon the floor space provided in constructing the pit 9 tiereby affording a firm support while the load is being placed in position. This position. of the tracks is shown in 1 the floor level being repre sented by the line A.

In the preferred construction, a pair of vertically movable plungers 16 is attached to the under. e of each rail 13. Each of these plungcrs 1G is hollow (see Fig. 1) and provided at its bottom with a suitable unit. bushing 17 which. in addition to other functions, cooperates with the interior of column guide 18 to guide the plunger. Jittached to the upper end of each. guide co un'ui is an element 19 (Figs. 2, 4 and suitably constructed to serve as a guide for the upper portion of the plunger. The guide posts or columns 18 are (as before stated) preferably embedded in or surrounded y the concrete in constructing the pit 10. but any desired means for rigidly supporting them in vertical position may he employed.

Eac of the elements 19 is slotted as at so, and at each side of the slot is a flange 23 supporting; and guiding sheave 24 mounted for rotation in a vertical plane. Each of the sheaves 24 has a portion of its periphery extending through long; sl t 95 we associa l i F a of the guide menti. nod. has is central openmn 26 through which pa es one end of 5. cable 27. pref ably of ti. softtype. the lower end of the cable being mot/ted. hen ded or provided with any desired means for makinrg a stronei connection between the cable and the hus The cable 27 (BXlTGHClS up over the stuve .nd then over one of the sheaves or Phil?? Q8 The pulleys are, 11 i ported for rotation in horizontal p anes hr :1 bed plate 29 secured in any suitable wa to the bottom of the pit. Also secured to the bottom of the pit is a cylinder 31 provided with a piston 82. he rod 33 of which carries its outer end a cross head 34. Secured to the cross head are clevises 35 having threr dedportions 36 engaging turnbuckles 37, the

other end of each turnbuckle cooperating with the threaded end of an eye bolt 38. Attached to each of the eye bolts 38 is an end one of the cables 27. In installing the apparatus care is taken to have all of the cables of the pr per length to give substantially uniform movements to all of the p ungers 16 when the 036353 head moves. d the turnbuckle mechanism may then be used to effect accurate adjustments so that of the plungers will move in unison and equal distances. The construction described insures a horizontal position of the ils 13 at any of the positions to which my may be raised.

The piston 32 may be operated by water by compressed air by suitable connections 41 to a water S111 or air compressor. Either or both are usually available in mostplaces where an installation is likely to be mat e. llhere neither is available the ap- ,.aratus say be modified by using some other form of prime mover. such as a winch and suitable connections for operating the cross head 34 or equivalentniember common to the plungers.

In Fig. 5 there is shown in somewhat diagrammatic form an apparatus for enecting and controlling the movements the DlfltOll which has some of the advantages of both draulie and compressed air operation and is particularly adapted for installations whore satisfactory water pressure not available. This apparatus comprises an air-tight tank 43 containing; water or any other suitable liquid. Entering the top of the tank 43 is a pipe 44 leading to a compressed air stor tanl: 45 which is in turn connected by a pipe 46 to an air compressor (not shown). The pipe connection 41 1 and 2) previouslv mentioned, is made to extend downtc a point near the bottom of the tanl: 43. The pipe 4 1- is provided with a three-way air cocl'hl and the pipe 41 with a check valve drilled for retardation of flow of liquid and an ordinarv stop cock 5 This apparatus may be so located at any point that convenient access mm be had to the valves. "When it is desired to lift load the valves are all set so that air from the air tank or the compressor will force liquid from the tank 4 to the cvl" inder 31. thereby drivin the piston to the left Fig. 1) and acting through the cables and other connections described to raise all of the plungers 16 vertically. After the oad has been lifted to the desired heiqht the st cock 53 is closed and the three-war valve set to shut off the air supply. Aft the work on the load. is completed it may be lowered by opening the stop cool: and s lino the three-way valve 51 to release the air pr. sure. As the load descends and the. piston 35 moves to the right 1) the li iuid will be forced by the piston back into the tank l the air in the tank above the liquid serving ward movement being controlled by mea as a cushion and the rapidity of the downns of the three-way valve 51.v It is appar course, that the usual air hose used to c ing tires may be connected either to the pipe 44 or to the pipe 46 in any suitable manner if, for any reason, that arrangement is more satisfactory than having the pipe 4-6 connected directly to the compressor. In making such a modified connection, however, the three-way valve 51 should be retained.

In Figs. 6 and 7 there is shown a modification which is somewhat simpler than the corresponding preferred construction previ ously described. The principal difference is that the modification employs only two vertically movable plungers 161, with a corresponding simplification of the cable and.

sheave construction. In order to prevent side sway the plungers 161 should be of larger diameter than theplungers 16 in the preferred construction, but this is not serious objection. One advantage of the modified structure is that it makes possible a more compact arrangement with a corresponding reduction inthe size of the pit. The organization generally ofthe modification resembles in most of its details the preferred form and substantially the same reference numerals are used for both forms. The apparatus for effecting and controlling the movements of the operating piston of the modified construction may be the same as previously described. 7

From the foregoing it will be seen that the the invention provides jack or lifting device which is much more satisfactory than racks of the drive up type or the usual dangerous and inconvenient open pits which must be of considerable depth if they are of any great value.- V

The construction has been described siderable detail, but it is not the 'ClGSl limited to such details, except as they cluded in the claims which follow.

I l hat is cl 'ied is: r 1. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of an open load supporting rame having the load receiving portions thereof normally at floor level, a.plu

rality of plungers vertically movable below and secured at their tops to the under side of the frame, a piston below the floor level common to the pl .ngers and means for effecting and controlling the movements of the piston, means con'iprising cable connecting the lower end of each plunger to the piston and an adjustment for each cable whereby moven'ients of the piston will effect equal. movements of all of the plunge 2. In an apparatus of t e character uescribed, a pair of rails channeled to receive the wheels of an automobile, cross members connected to said rails to form rectangular frame, a plurality of vertically movable scribed, a

plungers below and supporting each of the rails, guides for each of the plungers, a sheave rotatably mounted in each of said guides and extending into a slot in the plunger, a cable running over each sheave and having one end connected to the lower end of the plunger, andmeans common to the plungers for simultanenously opera-ting all of the cables to raise. and lower the aforesaid frame.

3. In an apparatus of the character depair of channel tracks to receive the wheels of an automobile and normally at floor level and cross rails connecting the tracks, a plurality of vertically movable plungers beneath and supporting the frame, guide posts in which the plungers are slidably mounted, a sheave rotatably supported below the aforesaid frame by each guide post and having its periphery extending into a slot in the asso- .ciated plunger, a cable attached to the lower end of each plunger and extending up to and over the associated sheave, and means com- 'mon to the plungers and connected to give and permit equal and simultanenous movements of the cables and their connected plungers to raise and lower the aforesaid rectangular frame.

l. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pair of parallel rails having their upper surfaces constructed toprovide longitudinal channels to receive the wheels ofan automobile, cross bars connecting the rails to form an open load support frame, a pit below the frame havino its walls constructed to aiford support for portions of the rails when they are in load receiving position, a vertically movable hollow plunger below and near each end of each rail, asheave for each plunger sup ported for rotation in a vertical plane and having a portion of its periphery extending through a slot extending lengthwise of its plunger, a plurality of sheaves mounted for rotation in horizontal planes, amovable ele ment in the aforesaid pit common to the plungers'and means for eeifcting and con tr lling movements of said member, a cable attached at one end to the lower end of each plunger and running over a vertical and a horizontal sheave, and means comprising a turnbuckle for securing the other end of each cable to the commmon movable member.

5. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a pair of parallel rails normally floor level and having their upper surfaces formed as longitudinal channels to receive the wheels of an automobile, cross bars connecting the rails, a plurality of hollow, vertically movable plungers attached to and below each of the rails, a sheave for each plunger rotatable in a vertical plane and rectangular frame comprising a plane, a piston common to the plungers, and means comprising a turnbuckle and a cable running around one of the horizontal sheaves over one of the vertical sheaves and down thron the interior its plunger for eonneetir each plunger LO the piston.

In testimony whereof I hereto att'n; my signature.

JOHN JAMES MCGONNELL. 

